This week, a clutch of protesters interrupted Gov. Chris Christie during a town hall meeting in South River.

They rose in unison, chanting, “Governor Christie, we are here to demand you stop your corrupt uses of Hurricane Sandy money.”

The orchestrated action of the college students and union members wasn’t that surprising – it follows several other town halls where citizens have confronted Christie over Sandy spending and the George Washington Bridge lane closures. Even before the town hall started, the governor had predicted such an outburst might occur.

An unexpected and frightening thing did occur, however, as the protesters were escorted from the meeting by police officers. As they regrouped outside, a man who identified himself as a State Police officer was taking their photographs.

Acting Attorney General John Hoffman has acted swiftly, justly, in ordering State Police to put down the cameras.

He and State Police Superintendent Col. Rick Fuentes have “instructed the State Police to no longer photograph at these events for security or any other purposes,” according to Hoffman’s statement to The Star-Ledger.

Saying that State Police are responsible for the safety and security of the governor and the public at town hall meetings, Hoffman said they must be “careful to guarantee that First Amendment rights are respected and the public — whether expressing positive or negative sentiments toward the governor and his policies — have ample opportunity to make their positions known.“

We’re heartened by Hoffman’s clear, immediate orders. But a chill remains among myriad questions about First Amendment rights in New Jersey.

Has taking photos of those who question the governor been standard practice? Who authorized it? And why?

One answer comes from State Police spokesman Capt. Stephen Jones.

“Any photographs taken during town hall meetings were taken strictly for the purposes of enhancing security,” Jones told The Star-Ledger’s Jenna Portnoy.

That sounds disturbingly like the rationale of former FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover in the days when Vietnam War protesters were routinely identified, wiretapped, harassed and assaulted.

A State Police spokesman said any photos taken of protesters would be destroyed. And a spokesman for the governor says Christie was unaware that his critics were being photographed.

Still, with the unfolding revelations surrounding the GWB lane closures, it’s difficult to take official statements at face value.

The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey has asked State Police to “come clean and explain to New Jerseyans whether it has a practice or policy of photographing people engaged in First Amendment protected speech.”